Kaban Lake

Kaban Lake (Russian: Озеро Кабан) is a system of three lakes within the city of Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan: Lower (Nizhny), Middle or Far (Sredny/Dalny), and the separate Upper (Boriskovsky) Kaban. The lakes stretch along the Old Tatar Quarter, a few minutes' walk from the historic city centre. The combined surface area is about 186 hectares, and the total volume of water is 11.8 million cubic metres.

Nature and hydrology

Kaban Lake formed in an old bend of the Volga River: these are oxbow lakes that developed in depressions of the former riverbed. Lower and Middle Kaban are connected by the Botanicheskaya channel, through which water exchange occurs between them, while Upper Kaban is a closed water body with no hydrological link to the rest of the system. The greatest depth, around 19 metres, is recorded in Middle Kaban.

History

City buildings in Kazan had already reached the shores of Lower Kaban by the 16th century, and by the mid-18th century the banks were fully built up with residential quarters. In the 19th century the water in Lower Kaban became unfit to drink because of industrial discharge — the city grew faster than the lake could be cleaned. In 1878 regular steamship service began between the source of the Bulak and the dachas on Middle (Far) Kaban. Ahead of the 2013 Universiade a rowing canal, the Center for Rowing Sports, was built on Middle Kaban and is still used for competitions and training.

Legends

Kaban Lake is tied to several Kazan legends. The best known concerns a khan's treasury: it is believed that during the siege of Kazan by Ivan the Terrible's troops in the 16th century, the Kazan khans ordered the treasury hidden on the lake bed. In 1950 and 1968 heavy barrels were indeed found on the bottom, which fed the legend among treasure hunters. According to another version, spirits still guard the treasure — the water spirit Su anasy and the giant serpent Adzhakha. It is also said the lake appeared where the holy elder Kasym-sheikh dragged his beshmet (coat), and that the name comes from Prince Kabanbek, who found refuge and was healed here. Another tale holds that the gusli (a stringed instrument) of a Kazan tsar who fell into the lake after being struck by an arrow still lies on the bottom. By one version, the word "Kaban" comes from an Old Turkic word meaning "pit."

Things to see

The Kaban Lake embankment is a modern multi-level public space with walking paths, wooden decks, viewing platforms and bike lanes. On the eastern shore a cascade of water gardens has been built as a natural water self-purification system. Boat and catamaran rental, sports grounds and barbecue areas are available, and in the evenings an illuminated fountain operates on Lower Kaban.

Getting there

The embankment is located in the Old Tatar Quarter, near 1 Tatarstan Street. The nearest metro station is Ploshchad Tukaya, about 500 metres on foot from the lake. By public transport, trolleybuses No. 6, 8 and 12 run to the Salimzhanova stop, and buses No. 1, 2, 10, 30 and 47 run to the Kamal Theatre stop.